RNLI Y Class - show and tell please!

[LucasHartong]

Whisper, that is a great boat! Beautiful. Do you restore former RNLI boats often?

[m chappelow]

Bit of spit & polish with an ice cream to finish off 😄

[LucasHartong]

Quality family time! I'd definitely go for the ice cream!

[SixtyNorth]

Nice photos.

Are you able to take 3 kids out in the boat space wise?

Looks good, well kept!

[Max...]

Looking awesome Mart.

One day, one day...

[whisper]

Originally Posted by LucasHartong

Whisper, that is a great boat! Beautiful. Do you restore former RNLI boats often?

Do loads of rescue boats but only about three ex RNLI ones, they're collectors boats now really as the Rnli have stopped releasing them lovely little boats to own and use.


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[SixtyNorth]

What kind of work was required to restore those boats? I can imagine that they are well taken care of when in service with the RNLI.

[whisper]

Originally Posted by SixtyNorth

What kind of work was required to restore those boats? I can imagine that they are well taken care of when in service with the RNLI.

Mostly finding them in good condition and then finding all the parts. Once you've done that it's cleaning and repairing any loose bits. Varnishing might be in order too.


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[SixtyNorth]

Yes, they do seem hard to come by and the ones I thought about buying had gone before I could go see them. Look like well built little boats though, I can see why they are desirable.

[LucasHartong]

Rescue the rescue boats!

[SixtyNorth]

Given the RNLI is a charity, why do they sell off these small boats when there is obviously many years of life still in them? The Y boats can't get used too often when stored on the all weather boats.

[whisper]

Originally Posted by SixtyNorth

Given the RNLI is a charity, why do they sell off these small boats when there is obviously many years of life still in them? The Y boats can't get used too often when stored on the all weather boats.

The RNLI told me that they now recycle all reusable parts from these boats, hence why they are no longer for sale

[SixtyNorth]

That makes sense. After all, by the look of it, those boats they sold off in the past (Y Class, D Class etc) had a lot of life left in them.

Any idea how they decided a Y-Class boat had passed it's "use by date" in the RNLI? Did they have damage when sold off or was it simply age related?

[Max...]

I've seen quite a few and from what I gather from chatting to the disposals guy at the RNLI and others connected I think they are always released in pretty much ready to go and serviced fashioned and they are checked each year in service and regularly 'refreshed' - they are usually offered to RNLI members or other rescue services first so they would not let a dodgy one go I expect.

I think the dodgy ones needing refurb are those that have suffered in 'civilian' hands, not usually as bad as the one below though:

http://www.rib.net/forum/f50/rnli-y-...tml#post679894

[ShinyShoe]

Originally Posted by SixtyNorth

Given the RNLI is a charity, why do they sell off these small boats when there is obviously many years of life still in them? The Y boats can't get used too often when stored on the all weather boats.

I suspect they have a capital replacement programme - i.e. when you buy/commission it you give it an expected lifespan and when that time is reached you have already planned to replace it. The RNLI are a charity, but not a charity that's short on funds... They take a very strong view that they put their volunteers in some rather sticky situations and so the least they can do is make sure they give them the very best kit to handle those situations.

A well used but intact boat will be worth more than a slightly more used but faulty one. So it makes more sense if you are going to sell them, to sell before its knackered. Its also far more practical to say - In July 2018 this boat will need replaced, a new one arrives and the old one leaves than to be sat in July 2019 debating if you can patch it up enough until the replacement you just ordered will arrive in September...

I suspect the life on an ALB is harder than you might expect. Depending on the station it may be used for launching purposes. They sit exposed to the elements 24/7 (under a cover I think - but on the deck none the less) and then are used regularly in close quarters work.

[Custom RIB]

Here you go:

http://www.rib.net/forum/showthread.php?t=72045




www.customrib.co.uk

[gocherhaz]

Hello. Has anyone replaced the 50mm/2inch reflective strips on the D class or Y class?

Cheers

[whisper]

I bought some but they seem to be quite curved . Also they are a pain to remove


www.customrib.co.uk

[whisper]

May be applying a little heat when putting them on?


www.customrib.co.uk

[gocherhaz]

Hi Whisper. Where do I purchase them from?

Cheers

-Harry